Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-11-18

81 ,LLss55gss 50
"Thankflu blossom, she responded.
The sentry brought his musket to
"prcsent.n "Pass, Thankful Blossom,
and God send it soon and the spring with
it, and good night" he said, with n strong
| MilcsiIn accent And before the still
amazed girl could comprehend the mean
ing of his abrupt challenge, or his equally
abrupt departure, he had resumed his
monotonous pace in the moonlight. In
deed as she stood looking after him, the
whole episode, the odd unreality Of the
moOnlit landscape, the novelty Of her
position, the morbid play of her thoughts,
seemed to make it part of Il dream which
the morning light might dissipate, but
could never fully explain.
with something OF this Tceung still
upon her, she kept her way to the river.
It's banks were still fringed with ice,
through which its dark current flowed
nOiseessly. She knew it flowed through
the camp where lay her faithless lover,
and for an instant INDUCED the thought
of following it. and facing him with the
proof of his guilt; but even at the thought
She rccoiled with a new and sudden doubt
in herself, and stood dreamily watching
the simmer of the moon on the icy banks,
until another, and, it seemed to her
equally unreal vision suddenly stayed her
feet and drove the blood from her feverish
cheeks.
\ figure was slowly approaching from
the direction of the sleeping encampment
Tall, erect and habited in gray surtout,
with a hood partially concealing its face,
it was the counterfeit presentment of the
ghostly visitant she had heard described.
Thankful scarcely breathed. The brave
little heart that had not quailed be-
fore the sentry's leveled musket mo-
ment before now faltered and stood
still, as the phantom with slow
and majestic tread moved toward her.
She had only time to gain the shelter of a
tree before the figure, majestiCally uncOn-
scious of her presence, passed slowly by.
Through all her terror Thankful was still
true to certain rustic habit of practical
perception to observe that the tread of the
phantom was quite audible over the crust
Of snow, and was visible and palpable as
the imprint of r military boot.
The blood came back to Thankful 5
cheek and with it her old audacity. In
another instant she was out from the
tree and tracking with a light feline tread
the apparition that now loomcd up the
hill before her, Slipping from tree to
tree, she followed it until it passed before
the door of a low hut or farm shed that
stood midway up the hill. Here it en-
tered and the door closed behind it. With
? every sense feverishly alert, Thankful,
from the secure advantage of a large ma
pie, watched the door of the hut. In a
few moments ii reopened to the same fig
. ure free of its gray enwrappngs. For
: getful of everything now but detecting
the face of the impostor, the fearless girl
left the tree and placed herself directly il
the path of the figure At the same mo-
I ment it turned toward her inquringly
and the moonlight fell upon the calm
, composed features of Gen. Washington.
In her CONSERVATION Thankful could
/ only drop an embarrassed courtesy and
f hang out two lovely signals of distress in
/ her checks. The face of the pseudo ghost
I alone remained unmoved.
/ "Eou are wandering late, Mistress
5 Thankful" he said at last, with pater-
nal gravity; "and fear that the formal
l restraint of a military household has
already given you some embarrassment
Wonder sentry, for instance, might have
t stopped You"
ooh, lie did" said Thankful quickly
but it's all right, please your eXcellenoy
He asked me who went there and
told him; and he was vastly polite as
J sure YOU"
l The grave features of the commanders
} in-chief relaxed in a smile. You are
more happy than most of your sex il
turning verbal compliment to practical
account. For know then, dear young
7 lady, that in honor of your visit TO the
: headquarters the password tonight
| through this cncampment was none Other
, than your own pretty patronymic-
; Thankful Blossom"
nv. .s.Is
} and her lip tremhled; but, with all hel
readiness of speech, she could only say
"Oh, your eXcelencyN'
"Then you did pass the sentry" con
, tinued Washington, looking at her intcntly
; with a certain grave watchfulness in hi.
gray eyes. "And doubtless you wandered
at the river bank. Although | myself
tempted by the night, sometimes eXtenC
, my walk a. far as yondGr shed, it were
, hazardous act for a young lady to pass be
yond the protection of the line
"Oh! | met no one, your eXcellency,
said the usually truthful Thankful hastily
rushing to her first lie with grateful i'm
? potuosity.
l "And saw no onef' asked Washington
quietly.
"No one" said Thankful, raising hei
brown eyes to the Generals.
lhcy bo'h lOohcu az gay" "'"Ni Wv
naturally most veracous young woman II
the colonies, and the subsequent allegor
| cal impersonation of truth in America
and knew each other lied, and, imagine
respected each other for it.
81 am glad to hear yOS say SO, Mistress
r Thankful said Washington quietly, "fol
'twould have been natural for you to have
{ sought an interview with your reCreani
lover in yonder camp, though She attempt
, would have been unwise and impossible. >
81 had no such thought, your excel
lency,n said Thankful, who had really
quite forgotten her late intention; yet
| if with your permission could hold a few
{ moments converse with Can't, Brewster
. it would greatly ease my nind,'